Container



March 11, 1941. J -r535 2,234,193

counnmn Filed Jan. 14, 1959 v ATTORNEYS Patented Mar. 11, 1941 UNITED STATES CONTAINER John F. Peters, Leonia, N. J., assignor to American Can Company, New York, N. Y.,

of New Jersey a corporation Application January 14, 1939, Serial No. 251,030 v 5 Claims.

The invention relates to fiber or paper containers, particularly designed for comestibles such as frozen foods and the like, and'has for its objects to provide certain new and useful 5 improvements in food containers of this character.

A'primary object of the invention is to provide a simple economical paper or fiber food container of the character described wherein provision is made for forming the container body of a single strip of material without corner joints and adequately reenforcing the corners of the container by inwardly tucked body wall portions formed integrally with the fiber strip of which the body is constructed.

A further object of the invention is to provide a food container of the character described wherein the integrally formed corner reenforcement means also serves as a locking and posi- -tioning abutment to rigidly and permanently locate the bottom wall or disk of the receptacle. A still further object is to provide a paper or fiber container wherein provision is made for 25 rendering the same liquid and moisture proof uct, while at the same time insuring the provision of a completely sterilized container for the reception of such perishable or other product.

A further object of the invention is to provide a paper or fiber container of simple construction and composed of a minimum of parts, the finished container being capable and susceptible of being coated with paraflin or other wax-like material to augment its advantages as an economical and inexpensive receptacle for perishable food products and the like.

By the invention the body wall of the finished container is preferably of slightly tapered formation, such for example as is present in the well known berry box.

Num'erousother objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as it is better understood from the following description, which, 45 taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, discloses a preferred embodiment thereof.

In said drawing- Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the assembled 50 container showing the cover applied.

Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical sectional view on 4 line 2--2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary horizontal section on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

55 Fig. 4 is a plan view of the fiber or paper and hermetically sealed with its contained prod-- blank which enters into the construction of the container body.

Referring to the drawing, I0 indicates generally the body blank which is formed of fiber or other relatively heavy paper material, said blank including opposite side wall portions ii and end wall portions 12. The blank may be partially perforated or scored as indicated at l3 adjacent its bottom to define fold lines setting off inwardly foldable side flange portions i4 and end flange portions l5. Vertically disposed fold or score lines ii are provided to define and set off the corner portions of the blank when the same is folded to constitute the body of the container. As best seen in Fig. 4 the vertically disposed fold or score lines l6 do not extend entirely to the top of the blank. At

each comer portion of the body blank there are provided inclined pairs of crease or fold lines ll. extending downwardly from the top of each fold or score line [8 to the bottom of the blank to intersect with the end of. each flange portion i3, i l at a locality where the blank is' cut away as indicated at a to set off such flange portions. The top edge is of the body blank is not flanged, but preferably constitutes an open upper non-flanged end of the container body.

In constructing the body the blank is first.

folded along .the corner fold lines 16 into substantially rectangular form after which the corner portions are again folded along the tapered 'lines' i! to produce inwardly tucked in corner portions or pleats 19 of double thickness, as best seen in Figs. '2 and 3. Thjs inward tucking in of the corner portions l9 transforms the body blank from a straight wall container body into a container having downwardly and inwardly inc ined side and endwalls.

The material of the blank which enters into the tucked-in portions or pleats I9. also tapers downwardly and inwardly asbest seen in Fig. 2, so as to constitute at its lower end an abutment or shoulder 20 at each corner of the folded container body.

After the inwardly tucked pleats are formed and provided at the corner portions of the blank, the wall members l2 at one end of the blank are lapped over one another and suitably secured, as by staples, adhesive or, both, so as to constitute a secure imperforate and hermetic side seam 2|. The invention also contemplates if desired forming the pleat members latter the meeting ends of the bodyblank are lapped over one another and suitably secured together.

A bottom wall member or disk 22 is provided and may be formed of similar relatively stiff I the bottom wall member 22.

paper or fiber material. Said bottom wall member is inserted into the open lower or bottom end of the formed container body until it seats against the lower shoulder portions 20 of the inwardly tucked corner pleats IS. The side and end flange portions and I5 are. then folded inwardlyalong the fold or score lines i3 and are adhesively secured, as by a suitable preapplied thermoplastic adhesive, to the marginal edges of From this construction it will be apparent that the bottom wall member is securely attached around its periphs ery to the inwardly turned flange portions l4 and I5 of the body blank, and are'pressed thereby tightly againstthe inwardly tucked pleats l9 at each corner of the inwardly and downwardly tapered container body. I

A fiber or'paper cover member 23 is provided and preferably includes a central raised rectangularpanel portion 24 'deflned by an annular groove or channel 25. The marginal edges of the cover are suitably formed or-pressed into U-shape, defined by an upstanding inner wall portion 26 terminating in an outwardly and downwardly extending marginal flange or outer portion 21. After the container is filled with its product, the cover is applied over the upper ends of the straight or non-flanged 'side walls of the body as best seen in Fig. 2, and as in the instance of aslip cover. I

The open end of the container body enters into the .annular recessdeflned by the spaced marginal walls 28 and 21 of the cover. A suitable thermoplastic adhesive, for example a. vinylacetate cement, .is preferably pre-applied to both sides of the upper open end of the container body or to the recessed portion of the cover member with which said body wall is engaged. A-

suitable squeezing-head or die isemployed to firmly; and adhesively secure the cover to the body so as to form an hermetic sealed joint to protect thecontents of the container against contamination and-contact with the atmosphere. The annular channel of the cover permits the squeezing head to be applied in the manner described. to form the sealedu'nion between the container and-cover at the. upper end of the former. By terminatingthe corner pleat construction short of the upper edge ofthe body wall blank member, as best seen in Fig.4, there is no undue thickness provided at the open end of the body, which otherwise might tend to prevent a complete hermetically sealed union between the container and its cover.

v The invention contemplates if desired first applying and adhesively securing the cover to the body and then filling the container from the bottom before the latter is applied and secured in position, also in the manner above explained.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that the invention provides a very simple but rigid inexpensive fiber or paper container for -hermetlcal1y sealing perishable food products therein such for example as frozen foods, which it. is desired to protect and maintain in frozencondition until the container is opened for consumption of its contents. The provision of the inwardly tucked corner portions or pleats i9 not only provides acon'tainer body of slightly tapered configuration, but also serves as an abutment against which the bottom wall of the container is securely clamped by the inwardly turned body flange portions l4 and I 5 adhesively secured thereto.

.It will be further observed that the improved container body construction provides a one-piece body wall having no joints at the corners which might be apt to leak, and there is no necessity for reenforcing the corners of the body other than the adequate reenforcement which is provided by the inwardly tucked pleats l9 formed integrally with the one-piece body wall member or strip.

Prior to filling the container with its product and closing the same, the latter and its cover are preferably completely coated with parafiln on its inner and outer surfaces, as by passing the container parts through abath of melted paraflln or other wax-like material, to the end that the rendered more completely proof.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent liquid and moisture that various changes may be made in the form,

construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim: 1. A container for comestibles and the like, comprising a folded rectangular body member secured together at [its meeting edgesin a side seam joint, said body member including inwardly 2. A fiber container for frozen foods and the like, comprising a folded rectangular body mem- 'ber formed of a single strip of material secured together at its meeting edges in a side seam joint, said body member including integrally formed inwardly turned bottom flange portions, the corner, portions of said body member each having an in wardly tucked tapered reenforcing pleat member formed integrally with the'body wall material and terminating 'in said body wall below the upper end thereof to constitute a container body of tapered configuration, and aseparatebottom wall member enclosed within the body walls and.

clamped between said inwardly turned bottom flange portions and the lower ends of said pleat members and secured to the former.

3. A flber container for frozen foods and the,

like, comprising'a folded rectangular body member formed of a single strip of material adhesively.

secured together at its meeting edges in a side seam joint, said body member including integrally formed inwardly turned bottom flange portions,

pleat member formed integrally with the'body wall material, a separate bottom wall member enclosed within the body walls and clamped between said inwardly turned bottom flange portions and'the lower ends of said pleat members and adhesively-secured in position, and a cover container will be completely sterilizedfor the re- I ception of a perishable food product, and also the corner portions of said body member each having an inwardly tucked tapered reenforcing member having a peripheral channel for receiving the upper portion of said walls at the open end of said-body member and secured thereto, wherel together at its meeting edges in a side seam joint,

said" body member including integrally .formed inwardly turned bottom flange portions, the corner portions of. said body member each having an inwardly tucked tapered reenforcing pleat member formed integrally with the body'wall material and terminating in said body wall below the upper end thereof to constitute a container body of tapered configuration, a separate bottom wall member enclosed within the body walls and clamped between said inwardly turned bottom flange portions and the lower ends of said 20 pleat members and secured'to the former, and a slip cover member having a peripheral channel for receiving the upper portion or said walls at the open end of said body member and hermetically secured thereto.

hesively secured together atits meeting edges in a sideseam joint, said body'memb'erincluding integrally formed inwardly turned bottom flange portions, the corner portions of-said body memher each having an inwardly tucked tapered reenforcing pleat member 01' double thickness formed integrally with the body wall materialand terminating in said body wall below the upper end thereof to constitute a container, body of tapered configuration, la separate bottom wall member enclosed within the body ,walls and clamped between said'inwardly turned bottom flange portions and the lower ends of said pleatmembers and adhesively secured to the former, Vanda slip cover member having a peripheral channelfor receiving. the upper portion or said walls at the open end of said body member-and adhesively secured thereto, whereby to provide an hermetic seal for the container.

JOHN F. PETERS. 

